Farmscape Ecology Program

Wonder Wander: 10 Feb 2021. The Last Batch of Winter Woodies. by Conrad.... Well, the weather certainly made a Winter Botany course seem appropriate a nip in the air & some snow underfoot. This posting profiles the woody plants covered in the third and final installment of our free do-it-yourself winter botany course: Staghorn Sumach, willow, White Mulberry, Shagbark Hickory, American Elm, hawthorn, European Buckthorn, Toringo Crabapple, Grey Dogwood, Multiflora Rose, Slippery Elm, and Witch-hazel. The species profiled here are marked with bright green flagging at Crellin Park and, primarily, on the adjacent lands of PS21 in Chatham NY. Even if you’re not able to visit the individual trees themselves, I hope these materials help you learn a bit more about our forests here in the Northeast.

Farmscape Wonder Wander: 3 February 2021 By Dylan This Coyote, caught recently on a camera trap video, seems to be on the trail of another ‘yote that came through earlier that day. It is Coyote breeding season in Columbia County, so this individual could be seeking a mate. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGpHHx1aMzk&feature=youtu.be

Snow Buntings! While most of us think of the birds that disappear from our region in Winter, a few species also appear.... such as Snow Buntings.

Farmscape Wonder Wander: 27 January 2021 By Nellie Yesterday morning before the snow, I took a long loop around Ooms Conservation Area to document the herbaceous plants in the Old Fields. During the warmer months, we may recognize plants by the color of their flowers, or the shape of their leaves, and often times what’s left standing in winter is a whole new plant-form! Join me and my trusty backdrop as we introduce you to some plants in winter.

Farmscape Wonder Wander: 20 January 2021 By Kendrick Fowler While out enjoying a walk in Ooms Conservation area after last month’s snowstorm, I came across a strange insect crawling across the surface of the snow. Its appearance was strikingly spider-like: wingless, brownish, stout, and with gangly legs. It was also fairly smallits entire body (legs included) could probably have fit on a penny. What was this creature, and what was it doing on the snow? Read on to find out!

Farmscape Wonder Wander: 13 January 2021 By Nellie and Anna Today's Wonder Wander will introduce the newly installed, self-guided tour of Old Field habitat at Greenport Conservation Area outside of Hudson! This is the second in a series of self-guided Wonder Wander walks installed in different habitats and public recreation areas in collaboration with the Columbia Land Conservancy (clctrust.org). Follow along with this blog post to explore some wonders of the Old Field, and.../or check out these wonders in-person at Greenport Conservation Area from now until February 15th! For those of you who have received our year-end appeal gift of the Wonder Wander Journal, this also reflects the January Old Field habitat. Find out more about our self-guided Wonder Wander walks and how to get a digital or hard copy of our Wonder Wander Journal at: hvfarmscape.org/wonder.